Sport Group

Sport Group is a global specialist in artificial turf and synthetic outdoor sports and recreational surface systems.

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Burgheim, Germany, Sport Group has a strong presence in its home market, as well as Europe, Australia, and the USA, with 19 companies employing over 1,900 people.

Sport Group offers a comprehensive product range, including artificial turf for sports and landscaping applications, polyurethane surfaces, as well as components for industrial applications.

Today, Sport Group is a globally recognised player and a trusted partner to major events worldwide. Since our investment, Sport Group’s EBITDA has almost doubled, and revenue has increased from €321m in 2015 to €828m budgeted for 2024.

VALUE CREATION

During the investment period, Sport Group successfully completed nine add-on acquisitions in the USA, Australia, and Malaysia, which significantly expanded the size of the business and established Sport Group as a truly global player as well as adding iconic brands such as AstroTurf to its portfolio.

With Equistone’s support, Sport Group has developed and implemented a comprehensive ESG strategy since 2021 and is now widely recognised as an ESG industry leader, supported by a unique portfolio of carbon-neutral products and its own recycling business, FormaTurf, which recycles end-of-life turf predominantly in Germany.

In recent years, the need for considerable operational transformation led to a significant number of changes at management team level and, with the aid of external advisors, the implementation of critical workstreams to counteract difficulties experienced due to the Covid pandemic, supply chain disruptions and significant material price inflation.

THE EXIT

Fund V sold its investment in Sport Group to KPS Capital Partners.